Save Money on Wedding Entertainment
As you know, your wedding day should be the best day of your life – and while you’ll be happy to pinch the pennies in some areas, entertaining your guests should be high on your agenda. From live vocals setting the mood for the reception to getting the party started when night falls, music plays an integral role in your wedding day.
Here we take a look at how hiring local entertainers and prioritising your must-have list can help you stick to your budget and get the perfect soundtrack to your big day.
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Prioritise your preferences
If you’re keen to keep your guests happy but want to cut back on costs, prioritisation is key. Your entertainment choices will be largely dependent on your guest list – so try placing guests into groups and coming up with an entertainment option that will suit your whole party. While hiring a magician might be a great way to keep younger guests occupied or a photo booth might be fun for a few hours, it’s a good idea to try and see the bigger picture. Whether it’s a solo musician or a band, music provides something for everyone and can accompany you from your wedding breakfast to the last dance of the night.
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Make sensible decisions
Once you’ve settled on an entertainment option, think about times when it will be used and if this weighs up with the cost. When you first start planning your wedding, it’s likely that you’ll have big, expensive ideas – but once your budget is finalised, it’s time to be more realistic about how much you can spend on each aspect of your big day. For example; do you really need music for walking down the aisle – or would you prefer to spend your budget getting guests on to the dance floor later in the evening?
It’s worth remembering that it can often be more costly for the bride and groom if they need a band or entertainer to arrive at a venue early to set up. Ideally, you only want to be paying your entertainers for the time they spend entertaining. Ask the venue if they can help with the set up as part of your package. This will not only save you money, but give you peace of mind that everything will be ready for when your musicians arrive.
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Avoid peak times
Like with all other aspects of your wedding, booking entertainment for peak times is likely to cost you more. Whether you’re booking a wedding singer or hiring a sweet cart, you’ll need to be prepared to splash more cash if you’re booking at busier times of the year.
January through to March, then October and November tend to be the best months to consider if you’re looking to book off-peak. This will not only help you save money on your wedding entertainment but cut back on the cost of all other aspects of your wedding.
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Hire a small band for the entire day
Hiring a solo musician or band is a great way to get your guests up on their feet and enjoying your wedding day – but once you factor in entertainment costs for the reception and then the evening party, you might soon find you’ve gone well beyond your budget. Cutting down on the size of the band you hire is also a great way to save money. Rather than hiring a 5 piece, think about how 2 or 3 musicians could entertain your guests. By hiring fewer musicians, you can still get the sound you want without the unwelcome price tag.
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Book locally
Travel costs make up a big part of wedding entertainers’ fees, as the further they travel, the more time it will take and the more money it will cost you. By booking locally, you can keep fuel costs low – giving you more money to spend on the actual entertainment you want. If you’ve already decided to hire a smaller band or group of entertainers, you’ll only have to factor in the costs for one car – rather than several cars or a petrol guzzling van.
If you’re getting serious about saving for your big day and want to cut costs on your entertainment options, these 5 top tips will bring you one step closer to finding the perfect soundtrack for your day-long soiree.
See some recommended bands and DJ’s here
